Logo

Why to sell digital art online

Selling digital art online can be a great way to monetize your creativity and reach a global audience. The key is finding the right platform, creating a unique and recognizable style, and marketing your work effectively. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you sell digital art online:

1. Choose Your Digital Art Style

Before you begin, make sure you have a clear style and niche. Your art could be:

  • Illustrations: Cartoons, comics, vector art, or character design.
  • Photography: Digital prints, edited or manipulated photographs.
  • Abstract Art: Digital paintings, textures, or graphic design pieces.
  • 3D Art: Sculptures, 3D renderings, or animations.
  • NFT Art: Digital art sold as Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs).

Tip: Focus on a style that resonates with your target audience and sets you apart from others in the market.

2. Create High-Quality Digital Files

Ensure your digital art is of high quality. Here are some tips:

  • Resolution: Create your artwork in high resolution (300 DPI for print quality, 72 DPI for web use).
  • File Formats: Save your work in multiple file formats for different purposes (e.g., PNG for transparent backgrounds, JPG for photography, or PSD for layered files). If you’re selling prints, offer formats like TIFF or PDF.
  • Watermarking: Some artists choose to watermark their online images to protect their work from being stolen. But keep in mind that it can affect the art’s aesthetics. If you do watermark, make sure it’s subtle.

3. Choose a Platform to Sell Your Digital Art

The platform you choose to sell on depends on the kind of digital art you create and how you want to position your brand. Below are some of the best options:

A. Ordefy

  • Why Ordefy? Ordefy is a great option for digital artists who want complete control over their store and no transaction fees. You can create a custom-branded e-commerce store and sell your digital art directly to customers.
  • Key Features:
    • Digital product uploads: Easily upload digital files for buyers to download after purchase.
    • Integrated payment processing: Accept payments via credit cards, PayPal, or other gateways.
    • Unlimited customization: Design your store and create a unique online shopping experience.
    • No commissions: Ordefy doesn’t take a cut from each sale, allowing you to keep more of your profits.
    • Marketing and SEO tools: Ordefy provides built-in tools for promoting your store, including SEO tools to rank better on Google and social media integration.

Ideal for: Artists who want to build their own brand and expand beyond marketplaces.

B. Etsy

  • Why Etsy? Etsy is one of the most popular platforms for digital art. It attracts a large audience that is already looking for handmade, unique, and creative items.
  • Key Features:
    • Digital downloads: Etsy makes it easy to list and sell digital products, such as printable artwork, illustrations, and design templates.
    • Large, active audience: Etsy has millions of users, many of whom are looking for digital art to decorate their homes, offices, or for personal use.
    • Instant delivery: Etsy allows you to offer instant digital downloads after the buyer makes a purchase.
  • Commission fees: Etsy charges a listing fee of $0.20 per item and takes a transaction fee of around 5% of the total sale.

Ideal for: Artists who want access to a large marketplace with a ready-made audience.

C. Gumroad

  • Why Gumroad? Gumroad is a user-friendly platform designed specifically for creators selling digital products. It’s ideal for artists who want to sell both individual pieces of digital art and bundles.
  • Key Features:
    • Customizable storefront: You can set up a simple and customizable storefront for your digital art.
    • Pay-what-you-want pricing: You can give buyers the option to pay what they wish (for example, a minimum price with the option to pay more).
    • No monthly fees: Gumroad charges a small fee per transaction (around 8.5% + $0.30 per sale), but there are no monthly fees.
    • Subscription options: You can offer art on a subscription basis, where customers pay you monthly for exclusive content.

Ideal for: Artists who want a simple and low-cost way to sell their work with minimal overhead.

D. Creative Market

  • Why Creative Market? Creative Market is an excellent platform if you sell digital art that can be used for commercial purposes—like graphic design resources, patterns, templates, and illustrations.
  • Key Features:
    • Large audience of designers: Creative Market attracts buyers looking for design assets, making it perfect for illustrators, pattern designers, and digital creators.
    • Commission-based: You earn 60% of the sale price, and Creative Market handles the payment processing.
  • Ideal for: Artists whose digital work is aimed at designers or marketers looking for high-quality assets for commercial use.

E. NFT Marketplaces (Optional)

  • If you’re interested in selling digital art as NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens), platforms like OpenSea, Rarible, or Foundation allow artists to sell their work as unique, verifiable tokens on the blockchain.
  • Why NFTs? NFTs allow digital art to be bought and sold as one-of-a-kind pieces, giving it scarcity and provenance.
  • Steps:
    1. Create a crypto wallet (e.g., MetaMask).
    2. Upload your art to a platform like OpenSea and mint it as an NFT.
    3. Set a price and list your artwork for sale.
  • Fees: Keep in mind that most NFT platforms charge minting fees and take a percentage of each sale (usually 2.5–5%).

4. Price Your Digital Art

Pricing is crucial for digital art, as it helps convey the value of your work and determines your income. Here are some factors to consider:

  • Size & Complexity: Larger, more intricate pieces of art should be priced higher.
  • Market Research: Look at other artists in your niche and what they’re charging. This will help you set competitive prices.
  • Licensing: If you’re offering commercial licenses for your art, make sure the price reflects this.
  • File Quality: Higher resolution, versatile file types (such as PSD, AI, or vector files) may warrant higher prices.
  • Discounts & Bundles: Offering bundles (e.g., a series of illustrations or multiple prints) can encourage bulk purchases.

5. Promote Your Art

Simply uploading your art isn’t enough to guarantee sales. You’ll need to actively promote your work to increase visibility and attract buyers. Here are some marketing strategies:

  • Social Media Marketing: Use platforms like Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Pinterest to showcase your art. These platforms are great for visual content and can help you reach potential buyers.
    • Instagram: Post your work regularly, share behind-the-scenes content, and use hashtags to reach a broader audience.
    • TikTok: Create short, engaging videos showcasing your creative process or the final piece.
  • Email Marketing: Build an email list by offering free downloads or exclusive discounts in exchange for email signups. Use tools like Mailchimp or ConvertKit to send out newsletters.
  • Collaborations & Features: Collaborate with other artists or influencers to gain exposure. You can also get your work featured on art blogs, YouTube channels, or podcasts.
  • SEO: Optimize your product listings with relevant keywords. This helps your art appear in search engine results, bringing organic traffic to your store.

6. Provide Excellent Customer Service

Even though you’re selling digital products, customer service still matters. Respond to inquiries promptly, handle any issues with downloads, and offer assistance if needed. Positive reviews and word of mouth can significantly impact future sales.

Final Thoughts

Selling digital art online can be a profitable and fulfilling venture, but success requires dedication to both the artistic and business sides. By choosing the right platform, pricing your work effectively, and actively promoting it, you can build a sustainable income stream and establish your brand as a digital artist.

If you want a platform with no commissions and full control over your branding and store, Ordefy is an excellent choice. For artists seeking wide exposure, platforms like Etsy or Creative Market offer large, active audiences. And if you’re exploring the NFT space, marketplaces like OpenSea are worth considering for selling your unique digital art as tokens.

Good luck, and happy selling!